Roma coach feels heat after loss

Erik Lamela of AS Roma, left, challenges Cagliari’s Radja Nainggolan during their Serie A match in Rome on Friday.

Photo: AFP

AS Roma coach Zdenek Zeman was left facing an uncertain future after his side were thumped 4-2 at home by Cagliari in Serie A in front of their angry supporters on Friday.

Rumors of Zeman’s demise have been circulating in the Italian media all week after a terrible run of form has left Roma nine points off the third Champions League spot.

They are without a win in five games since the winter break and remain in eighth place on 34 points, three behind AC Milan who occupy the second Europa League slot.

Hardcore fans in the Olympic Stadium began calling for the manager’s head after Cagliari’s fourth goal, unfurling a banner that read “Boemo [Bohemian, Zeman’s nickname] out”, before turning their backs on the game.

However, Zeman was defiant after the match, saying he will not step down because of one bad result.

“I’m not even going to think about resigning over one game,” he said.

“I saw the directors after the game, but we didn’t talk about specifics, only about a game that went very badly,” he said.

Cagliari’s victory takes them up to 14th on 24 points after their impressive display.